WEDDING: Russo - Nemecek
Victoria Ann Ruso and Nathan Willialm Nemecek were united in marriage Aug. 9 during a 4 p.m. double ring ceremony performance at Washington Oaks State Gardens, Flaglaer County, by Vashii Nemecek, brother of the bridegroom. Joel Nemecek, also a brother, was soloist.

WEDDING: Whidden - Austin
Kimberly joy whidden and jamie dale austin were united in marriage aug. 30 during a 5 p.m. double ring ceremony performed at goldhead state park by linda platt, notary and aunt of the bridegroom.

Mom won battle, not war against defiance
The mother of a 4-year-old girl tells her daughter to dress for school. The child replies, with defiance dripping from every syllable, "I don't want to, and I'm not going to!"

Sale to benefit children's cancer fund
Premium hair and skin care products will be on sale through Saturday at A Hair Off San Marco Salon to benefit CHILD Cancer Fund. This is a nonprofit organization which assists children and their families during childhood cancer treatment.

Keeping up with Mark Twain
The September issue of Smithsonian contains an interesting article by Ron Power titled, "Keeping Up With Mark Twain."

'Fashionable card day' upcoming
A $4,000 donation was recently presented to St. Johns County Rescue. That money will be used to help buy a new SUV and a cardiac rhythm generator to train emergency personnel in life support procedures.

Get ready for Cracker Day 2003
The St. Johns County Cattlemen's Association and the St. Augustine Shrine Club will join Oct. 18 to present the 45th Cracker Day at the St. Johns County Fairgrounds, State Road 207.

Club calendar
Club Calendar announcements are published free on a space-available basis as a community service.

Volunteer Spotlight
Cathy Brown, volunteer director, knows of several areas in the community which need volunteers. For more information about the Volunteer Center of St. Johns County, contact Brown at 827-1917 or e-mail ckbrown@aug.com.

Self Help
Read a list of self help groups in St. Johns County with contact information and scheduled meeting times.

Library will remember 9/11 on Thursday
The St. Johns County Public Library System received a special donation from painter Peter O'Neill. His painting, "Two Minutes of Silence," depicting a firefighter at Ground Zero, has been donated as part of the main library's "Libraries Remember" event scheduled for Thursday.

Who's getting wild about nature?
Melanie Cain-Stage, president of HAWKE for over 20 years, will be the guest speaker Sept. 18 at the next Sierra Club meeting. She will discuss what is involved in rehabilitating and releasing wildlife.

Pets of the week
First, a special announcement: The St. Augustine Humane Society shelter will be open today from 1 to 3 p.m. for adoptions and claims only. This special event is scheduled to help relieve the over-crowding condition that has plagued our tiny shelter for the entire past year and seems to grow worse by the day.

Club Notes
Read about news and upcoming events from St. Augustines clubs.

Best Bets
The following classes are being offered this month by the St. Johns River Area Service Center, American Red Cross. Call 797-3851 for further information and to pre-register.

Self Help
Read a list of self help groups in St. Johns County with contact information and scheduled meeting times.

People: Confessions of Jacqueline in new book
NEW YORK (AP) -- Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy told a priest she was contemplating suicide after her husband was assassinated, according to a new book about the Kennedy family.

People: Bill Murray sets the record straight
Bill Murray has finally addressed the rumors regarding strained relations between him and Lucy Liu during the filming of "Charlie's Angels" in an interview Friday with Access Hollywood.

Dr. Donohue: Endometriosis can cause pain and infertility
DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My 21-year-old granddaughter was diagnosed with endometriosis four years ago. She is in constant pain, making it impossible for her to work or attend college. I read your column every day and hope you can recommend something for her. -- H.M.

On to the stage for three Supreme Court justices
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Anthony Kennedy likes to listen to the opera while working, Ruth Bader Ginsburg dreamed of a career as a diva and Stephen Breyer has twice performed on stage -- albeit a half-century ago.

Brush fire fanned by erratic winds
HIGHLAND, Calif. -- A brush fire fueled by erratic winds threatened about 1,500 homes east of Los Angeles Saturday, while in central Oregon, crews held back another wildfire that had earlier jumped containment lines.

More businesses shrug off fears of terrorism
CHICAGO -- Scott Bushkie still worries sometimes about what would happen to his business if terrorists struck again like they did on Sept. 11, 2001. Back then, "everything just absolutely stopped."

History starting to repeat itself in California
California appeared to have gone mad. The Democratic Party's choice for governor had been rejected, a celebrity was getting all the headlines, and officials feared for the state's future.

Wildfire east of L.A. threatens homes
HIGHLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Aided by relatively mild weather, hundreds of firefighters made slow but steady progress Sunday against a wildfire feeding on an area of dense brush and timber that hadn't burned in nearly 50 years.

NASA plan details changes needed to resume flights
WASHINGTON -- Seven months after the Columbia tragedy, NASA has come up with a "return to flight" plan for future shuttle missions -- one that envisions a resumption of flights as early as next March.

In search for weapons, evidence proving elusive
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Weapons hunters in Iraq have found what they interpret as evidence of Iraqi preparations to secretly produce chemical and biological weapons, some Pentagon officials say.

Man questioned by FBI denies knowing bank robber
ERIE, Pa. (AP) -- A man who says his girlfriend is a cousin of the pizza deliveryman killed after a bank robbery by the explosion of a bomb locked to his neck says investigators seized his tools and computer, but he denied Saturday that he ever met the dead man.

The Timucua in the days of Pedro Menendez
As the founders of St. Augustine stepped ashore 438 years ago on September 8 in 1565, the people who already lived here watched with curiosity and concern. Spanish explorer Pedro Menendez de Aviles chose the village of Chief Seloy located in the area of the Fountain of Youth and Mission Nombre de Dios as his initial headquarters.

Agendas & Meetings
Find out what matters are slated for discussion in upcoming local government meetings.

Bush seeking $87B to fight terror abroad
WASHINGTON -- President Bush said Sunday night he will ask Congress for $87 billion to fight terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan, appealing for troops and money from other countries, even those who opposed the U.S.-led war.

NYC tries to put Sept. 11 behind it
NEW YORK -- Not long after the World Trade Center attack, a boutique called Safer America opened in what had been the shadow of the twin towers, selling $1,499 parachutes for high-rise office workers and $445 "escape hoods" for children.

Attendance is up at county schools
The number of students attending St. Johns County public schools by the 20-day attendance count has increased 5.7 percent from last year's figure, according to the St. Johns County School Board.

Henri brings ennui
About 100 people showed up at the Prince of Peace Church off San Marco Avenue Saturday morning for St. Augustine's celebration of its 438th birthday.

June McQuaig
June McQuaig, 72, lifelong resident of St. Augustine, died in her home Sept. 5, 2003, surrounded by her loving family. She was predeceased by her husband of 55 years, Edward "Ned" McQuaig and is survived by daughter and son in law Gretta and Thomas Mullis, St. Augustine; sons, Andy McQuaig, Jacksonville, and Tommy McQuaig, Jacksonville; sisters, Louise Andreu, St. Augustine, Nellie Cortez, Houston, Texas, and Joy Dinger, Lake Charles, La. Also surviving are 10 precious grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Deaconess Queen Ester Elmore
Deaconess Queen Ester Elmore, 90, of St. Augustine, died Sept. 5, 2003, at Flagler Hospital. She was a native of Denmark, S.C., and had resided in St. Augustine since 1942. She was a member of Stewardess Board, Deaconess Board, Missionary Society, Willing Workers Club and Senior Stars. She was a member of St. Paul A.M.E. Church.

Rudolph Smith
Rudolph Smith passed away Sept. 3 at his residence, the Brighton Gardens in Cherry Hill, NJ. He was 83. Born in Burlington, Vt.; he graduated from high school in Burlington in 1938. He enlisted into the OCS in Fort Sill, Okla., and graduated from OCS in 1942. He attained the rank of colonel in the U.S. Army, and served his country for 30 years. He received numerous medals and commendations during service time. When he retired from the Army, he was serving as the senior army advisor for the National Guard in Florida. He was a member of the Hall of Fame at Fort Sill, Okla. After his retirement, he resided in San Antonio, Texas; and moved to Cherry Hill in 2001 to be closer to his family.

June McQuaig
June McQuaig, 72, lifelong resident of St. Augustine, died in her home Sept. 5, 2003, surrounded by her loving family. She was pre-deceased by her husband of 55 years, Edward "Ned" McQuaig and is survived by daughter and son-in-law Gretta and Thomas Mullis, St. Augustine, Fla.; sons Andy McQuaig, Jacksonville, Fla., and Tommy McQuaig, Jacksonville, Fla.; sisters, Louise Andreu, St. Augustine, Nellie Cortez, Houston, Texas, and Joy Dinger, Lake Charles, La. Also surviving are 10 precious grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Sunday Editorial: Give to the local United Way
The United Way of St. Johns County's new campaign includes an ambitious goal of $1 million. The much-needed money will go to help 32 member agencies that provide vital social services to local residents.

Letter: What are "issues?"
Editor: The word "issues," as in "she has issues," fascinates me. It's a term of my son's generation. When I was his age (28), we'd refer to "hang ups." Then later in life we'd talk about someone's "baggage," which I would define as the aggregate of "issues" one carries with him and with which, therefore, others must cope in any relationship with the baggage.

Letter: Is St. Augustine Tree City USA designation a farce?
Editor: I just heard that at the city of St. Augustine's Code Enforcement and Appeals Board Meeting on Aug. 12, Jim Wilson, city attorney, persuaded the board to rescind its May 13 decision to fine and put a $15,000 lien for trees illegally destroyed without a permit, on the PUD property known as Old Sebastian LLC, located on DOT Road, which is off Lewis Speedway. Property is owned by Robert Graubard.

Perspective: Which is it: Each side or either side?
Let us suppose that your short story requires a dinner party. Your fictional hosts have invited the governor to dinner -- or the rabbi, the monsignor or the parson -- and you want to seat him between two other distinguished guests. Do the guests sit on each side of the honoree or do they sit on either side of him?

Editorial: Around Florida
The Bush Administration has made things much easier on America's industrial air polluters. New, relaxed Environmental Protection Agency rules allow companies to massively update power plants, refineries and other facilities without installing the costly but readily available modern pollution-control equipment, as formerly required.

Dolphins feel the heat in Miami
MIAMI -- They are pointed toward winning a Super Bowl and more than one player on the roster has said anything short of that would be tantamount to failure. That is the curse these Dolphins have brought upon themselves even before the 2003 season begins today at Pro Player Stadium.

No. 11 Florida St 35, Maryland 10
TALLAHASSEE -- Greg Jones ran for two touchdowns and Chris Rix passed for two more Saturday night as No. 11 Florida State wiped out an early 10-point deficit and defeated Maryland 35-10.

Resilient Henin-Hardenne wins U.S. Open
NEW YORK -- In the wee hours of Saturday morning, a dehydrated Justine Henin-Hardenne was sitting on a table in the trainer's room at the U.S. Open, getting intravenous fluids before heading to her hotel to sleep.

Collapse in Carolina
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Jake Delhomme ran into the Carolina Panthers' huddle, fists pumping and words of encouragement flying. It was his first chance to be the starting quarterback, and Delhomme wasn't going to blow it.

Newman wins Chevrolet 400 at Richmond
RICHMOND, Va. -- Ryan Newman dominated a late long run and then held on through three restarts -- the last with four laps to go -- to win Saturday night Richmond International Raceway.

Georgia gets past MTSU
ATHENS, Ga. -- Of all the mistakes No. 8 Georgia made Saturday -- and there were plenty -- coach Mark Richt blamed himself for perhaps the biggest one: leaving wide receiver Fred Gibson on the field for a meaningless kickoff.

Miami moves past Ohio State in AP poll
The Hurricanes used a thrilling 23-point comeback against rival Florida to move past the Buckeyes into the No. 2 spot in The Associated Press college football poll released Sunday.

Brock rocks Gators
MIAMI -- Lying on the ground, writhing in pain, it was hard to imagine Brock Berlin could go on. Then again, counting any of the Miami Hurricanes out Saturday night would have been a mistake.

Roddick vs. Ferrero in U.S. Open final
NEW YORK -- Racket bag slung over his shoulder, Andre Agassi briskly walked out of the locker room and through the halls of Arthur Ashe Stadium to the VIP parking lot.

Some teachers shun retirement, return to class
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. (AP) -- As last school year wound down, Fran Tankovich dreaded the thought that she would no longer be teaching her high school art students, who ranged from natural talents to diamonds in the rough.

Most of Florida spared Henri's heaviest rain
PUNTA GORDA -- Most of Florida was spared heavy rain forecasters believed Tropical Storm Henri would bring Saturday, as the system weakened into a tropical depression, moved quickly across the peninsula and over the Atlantic Ocean.

France to compensate orphans of 'Nazi barbarity'
PARIS (AP) -- France will compensate thousands of people whose parents were victims of "Nazi barbarity" in World War II, including those killed in massacres or for resisting the German occupation, the government said Saturday.

Debate grows over Israeli tactic of 'targeted killings'
JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon declared after a botched strike against Hamas' revered founder that all members of the Islamic militant group were "marked for death." But as Israel edges toward all-out war with Hamas, a debate brewed Sunday over the morality of "targeted killings" and whether the policy can deter militants.

Parliament speaker tapped as new Palestinian PM
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) -- Yasser Arafat tapped the Palestinian parliament speaker to take over as prime minister Sunday after a day of intense backroom politicking that followed the resignation of Mahmoud Abbas.

Abbas resigns; Israel bombs Gaza City
RAMALLAH, West Bank -- A disillusioned Mahmoud Abbas resigned as prime minister Saturday after a four-month power struggle with Yasser Arafat, leaving Israel and the United States without a negotiating partner and prompting calls by some top Israeli officials to expel Arafat.